Insta-party

Monday, April 16, 2012

This year I decided I wanted to throw myself a birthday party, rather than going out to a restaurant. This was partly due to my desire to (one) use all the new housewares I'd purchased like the Kate Spade hors d'oeuvre tray and (two) actually make all the recipes I'd been pinning.

I was quite ambitious and chose a bunch of fun, but time consuming recipes and I was a HUGE FAILURE and didn't photograph everything! I know, all that work and I only have a few instagram photos to show for it.

But I will at least tell you about everything...

Let's start with these beauties. They are called Hi-Hat Cupcakes and the recipe is from Martha Stewart. I was really intimidated by the meringue frosting and almost didn't make them. I actually diverted from Martha and followed this recipe for the frosting. (The ingredients are the same, but the process is different because I have a stand mixer and not a hand mixer.)

For my next treat I made oreo truffles, but did a slight variation by subbing in mint oreos and of course using food dye to make the chocolate coating the perfect mint green!

The slate cheese board and mouse knife were a couple of things I had to buy just for the party, or rather, I wanted to have a party so I'd have an excuse to buy them. Either way, they are both from Amazon and the total was under $40.

I really should be packing for Florida right now, but I hate packing and I was so consumed with preparing for, and subsequently cleaning up after the party all weekend that I haven't read a single blog and I've been missing you all!

Happy late birthday!!! I'm glad to see you had such a wonderful time, all the treats look so good! I'm sorry they all didn't turn out as planned, I know how that is. I always plan on making a cazillion treats for each holiday, and then just make one or two of which one is always a failure... haha. Good luck packing!

Hot damn, if I'm drooling over the instagram pics of the things you did photograph, I'd hate to see how bad I'd be drooling over your entire menu. It looks to me like you had a super delicious birthday (and a fun one with all that baking!). What a good way to spend the day!~

That oreo cheesecake especially though... dang. Oreos are my weakness. And goat cheese tartlets? I'm saving some of these recipes. Good choices. Be sure to invite me next time (so I can vacuum up all your food-- I mean, bring you a gift!)! ;)

Oh my goodness, girl, this looks like a fantastic party! I, too, love appetizer only menus. I feel like they're more fun and allow people to mingle and, of course, always have a drink in hand! ;) Also I just about died when I saw that cheese board and mouse knife on instagram. SO adorable!